Alton drug busts result of months-long investigation, undercover buys

Members of the ILEAS tactical team prepare to force entry and deploy a flash/bang grenade at the front door of a house at 609 Miller St. in Alton last month as they executed a search warrant. The raid was one of five high-profile drug busts executed in recent weeks as a result of months of undercover buys and investigative work by the Alton Police Department.

ALTON — Alton police have made five high-profile drug arrests in recent weeks, thanks to an undercover investigation that lasted about five months.

One of the more notable raids was at a home of in the 1200 block of Pearl Street Feb. 3 where Robert L. Horton, 34, was arrested and later charged with four felony counts related to selling cocaine. In raids earlier this month, Alton and state police descended on homes in Alton, dressed in combat gear to take down suspected drug houses.

The investigation of Horton’s Pearl Street address began Oct. 27 when an informant made a “controlled narcotics purchase” at the home. The resident was also known as “Rockin’ Rob,” or “G.”

“The (informant) has previously assisted the Alton Police Narcotics Unit with approximately 20 different controlled narcotics transactions during the past five months,” according to a document filed Feb. 8 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Police tracked down the name of the suspect by feeding the nickname “G” into a computer, which came up with the name of Horton, living at the Pearl Street address.

The informant allegedly picked Horton out of a photo lineup as “G” and agreed to participate in an undercover buy. He was searched before the buy and then called and ordered $70 worth of cocaine. Horton allegedly told the informant to meet at the intersection of Pearl and Gold streets, near the suspect’s home.

The informant went to Pearl and Gold, followed by Alton police detectives who kept the scene under surveillance. The suspect was then seen coming out of the Pearl Street home and walking to the informant’s vehicle. The suspect then deliver 0.7 grams of suspected cocaine to the informant in exchange for $70 in pre-recorded cash.

Police then followed the informant to an unknown location, where he turned the suspected cocaine over to officers. The substance tested positive for cocaine.

Officers then did a similar buy operation on Nov. 3, in which the informant bought 0.4 grams of cocaine for $40. That transaction was caught on video.

A different informant did a controlled purchase of $100 worth of cocaine on Feb. 1. The informant in that case sent a text message to the suspect, ordering $100 worth of the drug. The transaction took place at the Pearl Street home while police recorded it on video. The suspect delivered 1.2 grams of cocaine to the informant.

A document in a request for a search warrant states that city Building, Housing and Zoning records showed Horton to be a resident of the Pearl Street home. Police searched the home and found $191, four pieces of mail, addressed to Horton, two open boxes of sandwich bags, a digital scale, and 3 grams of suspect crack cocaine.

Horton was arrested and later charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park (Hellrung), two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a park and unlawful possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

Associate Judge Neil Schroeder set bond of $200,000.

Police used similar techniques in investigating suspected drug sales in the 2000 block of Mulberry Street and in the 500 block of Mildred Street.

“The Narcotics Division of the Alton Police Department has received complaints from citizens in reference to suspected narcotics activity at the residence,” according to a court document, referring to the Mulberry Street address. “That address has been the subject of an illegal narcotics sales investigation for the past two months,” according to a sworn statement filed Jan. 26 in pursuit of a search warrant.

In that case, an informant went to the Mildred Street address Dec. 14 with $50 of pre-recorded cash and gave it to the suspect. The suspect walked to the Mulberry Street home and returned with crack cocaine, which he gave to the informant. The transaction was video recorded.

Police did a similar controlled buy at the Mildred Street address on Jan. 10. A suspect was taken into custody on Jan. 18, but he told officers the name of a person from whom he purchased the drugs. County records show no record of charges in the Mildred-Mulberry street investigation.

Police also did a series of controlled buys at a residence in the 600 block of Miller Street on Dec. 21 and Jan. 16.

So far this month, in addition to Horton, authorities have charged Brandon E. Blake, 27, of the 1300 block of Rixon Street, with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church; Vincent J. Caldwell, 27, of the 1000 block of Elliott Avenue, with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance while located within 1,000 feet of a church; and Eric D. Walker, 24, of the 2400 block of LaSalle Drive, with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Members of the ILEAS tactical team prepare to force entry and deploy a flash/bang grenade at the front door of a house at 609 Miller St. in Alton last month as they executed a search warrant. The raid was one of five high-profile drug busts executed in recent weeks as a result of months of undercover buys and investigative work by the Alton Police Department.

http://www.thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_MillerStreet1LEAD.jpgMembers of the ILEAS tactical team prepare to force entry and deploy a flash/bang grenade at the front door of a house at 609 Miller St. in Alton last month as they executed a search warrant. The raid was one of five high-profile drug busts executed in recent weeks as a result of months of undercover buys and investigative work by the Alton Police Department.